Jim Cornette on The Passing Of Don West

From Episode 275 of the Jim Cornette's Drive Thru
Artwork by Travis Heckel!
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[@boolysweenusdotnet]

Don West's commentary is as integral to the history of TNA as the six-sided ring.

[@danthemancushecan]

When TNA brought in Hogan & Bischoff, and got rid of the six-sided ring, I knew right then it was gonna go down hill.

[@JPDUBpodcast]

Truth

[@gullyblanchard5750]

Never heard a bad thing ever said about Don West by anyone in and out of wrestling. RIP to him.

[@mikepelosi9877]

Don West is one of my childhood heroes. For some reason, I loved watching that guy scream and sell. I bought baseball cards and knives from Don. He could sell salt to a slug. A national treasure. Rest in peace, Don.

[@frod79]

gem mint 10!

[@syn8444]

L

[@WorthlessClips]

@@syn8444 what the fuck are you doing

[@owl509]

One of the most enthusiastic wrestling commentators of all time! He and Tenay were a big part of why I liked TNA so much when I was a kid/young teen. I remember he occasionally got on the announcer table and would really sell whatever was going on in the ring without taking away from the actual wrestlers. May he rest in peace ✌️

[@hughmorris2078]

Don West was a great man. He will be deeply missed.

[@davidcwajgenberg6185]

He was I met him twice very down to earth .

[@SamsarasArt]

My brother met him in 2007 at lockdown as he was sat directly behind him and Tenay. After the show Don West personally thanked him and his friend for attending.

[@hughmorris2078]

@@SamsarasArt he worked at the radio station in my town. Always was big on supporting local youth sports with his time and resources

[@warren_r]

Don West.... great voice, great character, great seller of wrestling. Hard to believe he's gone this soon. Bruce Prichard actually had a great comment about Don: "He made TNA money." You don't get to say that about wrestling announcers too often. It really is one of the highest compliments you can pay someone in this business.

[@Noobie2k7]

I mean at house shows and tours during the untelevised bits and breaks he'd get up and literally sell the fans in the crowd TNA merch. He'd go back and grab a bunch of stuff and then walk around the ring literally doing his shopping network stuff and crowd loved every second of it and would buy anything. I ended up buying a set of DVD's from him during one of the companies UK tours. Something just made it special having West sell you it directly.

[@impulse_xs]

You KNOW you’re the ultimate salesman when you can even make a company like TNA money.

[@TriplomatX]

Don West really was the nerves of the body in TNA. He made you feel for TNA. I'll admit, if it wasn't for West, TNA would feel like AEW today then, just there with Wrestling.

[@elc1960]

RIP Don West. Also nice job Travis, on the 1985 Topps Cornette "rookie card" mockups in the artwork.

[@killerk3431]

R.I.P. Don was an awesome commentator Full of enthusiasm

[@Kas58223]

Don West is one of my favourite announcers was saddened by his passing just pure passion and energy and pairing him with Tenay I loved it

[@kevingomez4747]

RIP Don West. I remember first watching TNA and remember the announce team being so unique. I might be the only one on this, but Don West and Mike Tenay, was TNA's JR and Jerry Lawler.

[@punkmeathead3792]

You’re not wrong

[@adamslemp9398]

RIP Don West you were and always will be the voice of TNA. He and Tenay made watching impact enjoyable

[@heisensaul5538]

I never really watched TNA, but I will say this: Don West added excitement to it when I did. Even if he knew nothing about wrestling when he started, he was willing to learn. He seemed like a very nice man, and it's a real shame that he's left us. I think we will all miss his enthusiasm.

[@lostcause3151]

He always just reminded me of an over grown excited kid. R.I.P Don West

[@adamjohn8975]

RIP Don West

[@jamesd4223]

Don won so many people over(myself included). He learned to play to his strengths by hyping up the drama or impact of important moves instead of calling every move. He was generally loud but, learned to change his tone to help tell the story of the match.

[@VinnieGer]

Jim always has something respectful and funny to say about those who have left us.

[@paulearl8203]

Unless they don't vote the same as him.

[@TheTennesseeFistMachine]

@@paulearl8203 sit down nonce.

[@VinnieGer]

@@paulearl8203okay tell me who died that wasn’t on par with his politics and he started to badmouth them. Go. I’ll wait.

[@pablobronson4122]

@@VinnieGer he wouldn’t acknowledge them. We’ll see what he’ll say if something happens to Chris Jericho or Kane

[@vincesmith2499]

@@VinnieGer Ultimate Warrior. Although I admit he at least admitted a lot of wrestlers looked up to Warrior when they were kids. Cornette never badmouthed Benoit for killing his family but hated Warrior because Warrior wasn't a good worker. Warrior's political views were more of the icing on the cake than the main reason Corny didn't like him.

[@graefx]

Don West and Mike Tenay defined what wrestling sounded like. For me, they're the watermark and bar I'll always measure and no one holds a candle to them. I grew up with Don and he'll always be one of the GOATs

[@TriplomatX]

Though I'm such a fan of Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler, Don West & Mike Tenay really were the top voices of TNA color.

[@TriplomatX]

@Digital Fates Yes,.....I feel the same as well.

[@TheTopTurnchuckle]

I remember the TNA Today’s on KZbin. Everyone of those had a 10min seg of Don screaming with the greatest enthusiasm while selling the TNA warehouse….and if you weren’t excited about wasting your money on Motorcity Machine Guns wrist bands and a Monty Brown autographed 8x10, you needed to be sat down and talked to.

[@HitmanHart40]

Don West and Mike Tenay are in my top 3 favorite commentary teams of all time! Met them both in 2009 at TNA Lockdown. Don was extremely nice and enthusiastic to take a picture and hold a long conversation. Very talented and he will truly be missed! R.I.P.

[@joeyskywalker1322]

Facts

[@MrRjh63]

Yeah i hated when they replaced him with Tazz.

[@aidanmcgrath911]

Very sad news. May he rest in peace. 😢

[@syko2695]

This man was quite simply the wrestling voice of my childhood and could've sold me a dog turd in a sock if he wanted to. He's also one of the very few people that I've never seen anyone in the business say a single bad word about. Rest in peace you wonderful, enthusiastic genius.

[@coldnightmare199]

I'm sure anyone can sell you shit at this point t

[@syko2695]

@@coldnightmare199 ?

[@TriplomatX]

I'm sure AJ Styles has Don West to thank him for helping him sell merch cause I know he was the come up babyface Jeff wanted to push for product and DON WEST, my gawd, could make an AJ Styles shirt seem like a collection of a lifetime.

[@JDCollectible]

This may very well be the best, most thoughtfully illustrated thumbnail I've seen for this channel. You can tell how much respect they have for Don. RIP.

[@retroextreme79]

Anyone remember in TNA the brown bag special? I bought several of those because I loved Don’s sales pitch and enthusiasm. Rest easy Don.

[@rogeredmonds5302]

RIP Don West. "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE K I D D I N G ME"

[@milknyte]

Such a great guy it's so sad to hear about his passing. He'll always be the voice of tna for me. Rest in peace.

[@exiaR2x78]

We didnt get TNA on tv till the Hogan era, but a lot of stores carried the ppv dvds so me and my brother would watch them. Don was such an underrated commentator we thought he was great and so entertaining

[@moronsaltable]

R.I.P. Don West you will always be a legend. My parents both used to watch you on Shop at Home religiously when I was a small. Fortunately my parents took a gamble and listened to your advise that the sports card market would be a very profitable investment. My parents invested $170,000 we sold all the cards and boxes and that money was able to pay for my first semester of community college.

[@unusedsub3003]

Don West was the voice of my university years. It was an absolute honour to meet him in Manchester.

[@dvon1097]

West and Tenay are my second favorite commentary duo behind Ross and Lawler. You will be missed Don

[@tartsonawire]

I went through a phase in my teens where I would watch HSN/ Shop at Home for hours at a time. I remember Don's craziness, but didn't make the TNA connection until he passed. RIP

[@Crystopsy]

I did the same and just made the connection while listening to this. He would be over-the-top selling those baseball cards, and I believe he sold knives, too.

[@ADAMdinho1]

Don West & Mike Tenay made TNA in the early 00's. A great commentary team that really drew you in to what TNA had at the time a good strong NWA Championship locker room & the X Division which was raw, fresh etc. Really good man & a brilliant commentator. 🙏🕊💙

[@JoeR203]

I remember Don West saying (possibly during an RVD match): "He uses his feet like they're an extension of his own body.".

[@impulse_xs]

Thank you Don West for all the great memories as a young fan! TNA from 04-10 was honestly great and Don West(with Mike Tenay of course) was a big part of that.

[@TheEnzyme94]

Thank you Don West! Rip.

[@InsignificantNick]

Don West and Mike Tenay were such a great duo. They were the voices of TNA. Don's enthusiasm and booming voice were unmissable. He could sell fire to the devil.

[@Enterthedarkness23]

One of the best in the business. Don always brought energy to everything he did! May he Rest in Paradise.

[@OongTheLastAirbender]

Don & Mike is the reason I stayed a wrestling fan in the early 00s. I'll miss him.

[@pk_1]

RIP to one of my favourite and best commentators of all time Don west. He was the heart and soul of TNA. His voice alone matched the intensity of the whole show during the prime years of TNA. Hearing him yelling “Ohhh and he just CREAMED Him!!!” Always got me 🤣🤣🔥. He made my childhood 🔥growing up. You will be very well missed Don.🙏🏽💔😔

[@j.b.595]

I loved him during the golden years of TNA him and tenay are an underrated duo.

[@LordRaptor]

West and Tenay were great, probably the last good commentary team that was put together in wrestling, I have so many fond memories of watching old TNA, I miss these two, RIP Don West.

[@Kas58223]

Absolutely I loved those two you know Tenay looked after him and gave pointers saying you be the energy and passion and I’m the professor knowing the backgrounds of the wrestlers

[@quentinkaasa47]

JBL's first run on commentary with Michael Cole was pretty great from what I remember. There was also Josh Matthews and Matt Striker on ECW. They were favorites back then amongst the IWC - I think they even won a Slammy.

[@LordRaptor]

@@quentinkaasa47 I'd agree that JBL and Michael Cole was pretty good in their first run, which was short lived (lasted a little over a year), not as good as Tazz and Cole imo, still Tenay and West were better than both the classic Smackdown teams, can't say the same about anything that involved Josh Matthews on commentary though, he was always terrible.

[@TriplomatX]

I can't deny, Mike Tenay & Don West pre-Heel West was an outstanding commentary team. With Jeremy Borash on the announcer's call & interview segments. TNA was a solid product top to bottom on TV.

[@LordRaptor]

@@TriplomatX I wouldn't go as far as to say TNA was a solid product top to bottom, but it was definitely great at its best moments, in fact good enough to get a decent chunk of WWE's audience to watch, whether they're defectors or people who watched both simultaneously like me and I agree, Jeremy Borash was a very good part of that team, it's a shame WWE doesn't use him as an on-screen talent.

[@TrueNomadSkies]

Don West on commentary was one of my favourite things about TNA back when I watched every week. His energy made whatever happened in the ring believable within that context, and I loved learning that he was personally headhunted after being seen doing infomercials.

[@RayHyclak]

I used to work for the AHL team in my town and I got the job doing a Don West impression! He was a national treasure!

[@CoopersUNIVERSE]

I met him so many times at TNA and all I have to say is that man was just the nicest and most loveable guy i ever meet

[@ajmetal666]

He was a sweet guy when I met him he was super socialable and genuinely nice rest in peace Don West 😢

[@kennethculler1738]

The commentary was the best thing TNA had for a long time. RIP Don West

[@SamsarasArt]

Don West and Mike Tenay are as legendary a duo as Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler as well as Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan. RIP, you were taken way too soon.

[@falsedemocracy83]

I thought Don was extraordinary! There was nothing common about that common tater. He was great and when compared to the commentators on AEW, one might say he was Elite ;) A man who deserves to be remembered fondly and to have his achievements in life celebrated. If I ever achieve 10% of what he did, I would consider my life a life well lived.

[@jacobcraft123]

I remember when TNA came to my hometown and Don West came out during the break to do the hot merchendise deals , everyone went nuts and cheered his happy n electric personality just made you smile n made u want to watch n listen to what was going on , thank you Don West for every single memory in TNA Wrestling

[@garybrown2092]

Don West always reminded me of the funny uncle, type of person.

[@NightRanma]

Impact regularly posts old ppv shows on their KZbin channel so I spent a lot of the past year listening to his work and just loving how into it he got. Such sad news hearing that he passed.

[@J1R629]

That 03-05 period of TNA still has a nostalgic soft spot in my heart. Especially the summer of 05. Such good memories from that period. Don and Mike are one of the most underrated commentary teams in wrestling history along with Gordon Solie and Roddy Piper or Jim Ross and Corny.

[@TriplomatX]

I heard this happened. Wish I was still on twitter, really was supporting his good health, & just admiring what he brought to TNA. People don't realize, he was the energy in TNA, his commentary wasn't completely Ace, but you couldn't ask another person to bring the energy he did to TNA. If AEW had someone like Don West who was as passionate about a product good, bad, or ugly, you'll know for sure you have fans that'll remember how live AEW can get like TNA even though TNA wasn't as great as Don West made it to be. He was hyping all the TNA products, he would hype up the small but hyperactive X-Division, & the pre-show PPVs made you want to invest in the TNA PPVs whether you had the money to pay for it or not. I hope more Wrestling fans admire what Don West did for TNA & for wrestling. He was a very great personnel. RIP to a great Veteran in Wrestling.

[@johnhess9443]

One of wrestling's nicest guys, by all accounts. Class act. Infectiously enthusiast. Positive. Good natured. Genuine. The business and the world in general need more Don Wests. RIP. Big fan of his commentary and bigger fan of the guy.

[@mikem10481]

Don West enthusiasm in the early days was one of the reasons I watched TNA in the first place. Him and Mike Tenay were an underrated duo. When he was replaced by Tazz TNA became WWE light and I watched less and less.

[@paulellington1505]

Thanks for the memories, Don West

[@stevensingleton6742]

It's The Brown Bag Special!!! Your gonna get 5 Dvd's, 2 T-shirts and a autographed 8x10 it's all random folks just give me your shirt size. Loved it!

[@papboybrooklyn77]

Rip don West definitely the voice of impact wrestling🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@MyNameIsUnavailable]

The "SELFISH PRICK!" promo was MY SHIT!

[@geesixnine]

Don West and Mike Tenay gave TNA it's own flavor. It felt They made TNA feel legit.

[@wwltd3036]

A carny in all the best ways. Master of the ballyhoo. R.I.P Mr.West

[@Evs78101]

RIP Don West. He really have TNA their own identity on commentary. He gave the perspective of an audience member better than any other commentator I can think of. He was excitement on the mic.

[@BoondockBrony]

Loved Don West's commentary, missed him when he left. Sad he is dead RIP Fellow Chicagoan.

[@ffvffv5709]

Don stands out even more now that we have had a good decade of subpar announcing in the USA. It took me years to appreciate him because of his early run, but god damn if he didn't become a valuable asset when he found his place.

[@Paultheguitarist]

I used to watch him on Shop at Home selling sports cards and memorabilia before he was a wrestling announcer, he was always entertaining.

[@toddsmods.623]

The 85 Topps Cornette card was perfect.

[@peterclapton625]

It was so weird that Don West (the man who first called AJ Styles’ overhead kick the Pele) died the day after Pele.

[@benespinosa6725]

Don West was awesome on Commentary in TNA I've been going back and watching old episodes of NWA-TNA on impact plus Don West and Mike Tenay were amazing together especially during abyss Matches why would TNA think about turning Him heel in 2009 that sucked and Don being on Commentary during the Scott Steiner and Josh Matthews vs Jeremy Borash and Joseph Park Match @ Slammiversary 2017 was awesome Michael Cole Paying Tribute to him on Smackdown was great RIP Don West You'll be missed 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@KevinFields777]

I got to make just one trip to Nashville to watch TNA in person. I was fortunate enough to have a ringside seat right next to the announcer's table and got to listen to the live play-by-play with Tenay and West, and after the show I got to talk to them for a minute. It was legit the best wrestling experience of my life. Rest well, Don, you've earned it.

[@akamiguelsanchez9985]

Watching TNA from the UK, I had no idea Don didn’t come from wrestling or sports. He was absolutely fantastic and really made you excited about what you were watching

[@jamespatrick9841]

Don West was fun to listen to; he really loved wrestling.

[@leviathan2515]

my condolences, rip don west what a great soul

[@Lordran__]

Rest In Peace, Don West. I’ll never forget his awesome commentary. He & Tenay were such a great duo. Good times. 🥲

[@evilshadow8761]

Been waiting for this for over a week. RIP Don West. My favorite call was always “Rellik is Killer spelled backwards”.

[@lord-vast]

Respect To You Don West, We Miss You Sir, You'll Always Be Remembered As Being True Blue, Peace RIP

[@romacechina]

Don had so much passion and energy to this commentary, the sort you don't often see these days outside of Pat. I remember some fans felt Don was annoying or too over the top back in the day, but i always liked how entertaining he was, especially when he turned heel, where he emulated Bobby Heenan in the way he would poke at Mike, Jim and others with his lines and comments. Will never forget Don and will always remember him for his work in TNA.

[@bash8387]

Rip don west the voice of tna

[@carloslozada470]

Very good announcer always brought emotion to his call

[@poppy87]

Will Ferrell did a great impersonation of Don West on SNL in the late 90s when he was on HSN.

[@KomradeKrusher]

Can't say I watched much of TNA or that I have any memories of Don West, but hearing Jim talk about him like he does here, I almost wish I did. R.I.P.

[@looneytunea3064]

Don made the whole Main Event Mafia storyline looks great with his commentary .

[@xburninxthexremainsx]

they also let Mickey James come out with her belt to Hardcore Country for the rumble. WWE is coming around, Jim. Cmon.

[@alazkaalazka6087]

One of the voices of Prime TNA. Thank u for all the memories Don West.

[@Fearik83]

Always enjoyed Don West. Came across as someone you would enjoy being around. RIP sir.

[@sonicplys64]

I remember watching him in Shop at Home too. When I heard, he was doing wrestling commentating, I thought what a perfect match.

[@sniffmoneyArmsAndAmmo]

Don was a pretty kool guy...met him a few times at TNA shows he stopped and talked to my sons and I each time we went and gave us an autograph....he was a great salesman he would be out front and outside selling the hell out of the shows and the merch and cracking jokes funny guy....Rest In Heaven Don Condolences to your family God bless 🙌🏼 🙏🏽

[@mteeters]

I worked with Don at Shop at Home back in the mid-90s. Great guy that loved sports. RIP.

[@ryanmckeon5107]

I met Don West he was a nice guy and it was ironic that he died 11 years to the day when I met him and got his autograph shook his hand talked to him about TNA and what products were available to buy at Impact house show in Albany New York

[@AdventuresWithMe00]

Really enjoyed him on commentary. He made TNA a lot more bearable.

[@jamespaul6315]

RIP Don

[@aaronsandberg2202]

Don West deal of the day on the tna website.

[@Simonskilamb]

Agree with the other comments. Very underrated co-commentator, really glad Michael Cole was allowed to give that respectful mention of his passing. RIP.

[@ragejinraver]

This is sad to many great people are gone . RIP Don West God Speed my friend. You were one of a kind 😔

[@insignificantaftermathPROJECTS]

I have those 4 Corny Baseball cards. Got them for a nice price of 50 grand! I had NO idea Cornette played Baseball! Thanks Don!

[@michaelmclaren4234]

RIP Mr West...feels wrong to like this story. But he deserves the respect 🙏 A great man

[@nickp.2169]

440 STAINLESS STEEL!!!!! When Don west was selling knives on shop at home. My brother and I still yell that at each other.

[@Vinsanity_93]

He was very passionate, he will be missed by everyone who heard him and worked with him

[@paulkersey1007]

R.I.P Mr. West. You are awesome and forever will be

[@Jayce_Alexander]

I've said this before, but in terms of commentators Don West has really been the only great revelation of the 21st century to me. He was a natural in that position, and his excitement was infectious in a way that no other wrestling commentator who got his start after the year 2000 has been. Watching his work gets me excited about what's going on in the ring and the show in general, and that's ultimately the main task of the commentary team. He was a good one, and he will be missed.

[@wesleysteeleiv]

I knew of Don West from his Home Shopping Network days when he was slinging stuff to sell on late night HSN on Chan 32. He would get really excited and loud about selling baseball cards, knives and other shit.

[@javijavinomi6282]

Literally the ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDDIN ? moment of the day

[@dquanissavage6287]

Awesome Shoot Today Jim!!😎🐐🐐

[@TheUnitedRoninNetwoR4ks]

RIP Don West.